Transferring or dispensing skirted paper disks or caps and the like



June W; L. WRIGHT ETAL.

TRANSFERRING 0R DISPENSING SKIRTED PAPER DISKS OR CAPS AND THE LIKE Fil J n 2 1926. v 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 1932- w. L. WRIGHT ET 'AL 1,854,008

TRANSFERRING 0R DISPENSING SKIRTED PAPER DISKS OR GAPS AND THE LIKE FilediJune 23, 1926 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 gin wanton WA mm June 1932- w. WRIGHT ET AL 1,864,003

TRANSFERRING OR DISPENSING SKIRTED PAPER DISKS OR CAPS AND THE 111KB Fil une 2 1926 7 Sheets-Sheet s June 21, w T ET AL TRANSFERRING OR DISPENSING SKIRTED PAPER DISKS OR CAPS AND THE LIKE File une 25', 1926 7 sheets-sheet 4 June 21, 1932. w. 1.. WRIGHT, ET AL 1,864,008

TRANSFER'RING OR DISPENSING SKIRTED PAPER DISKS 0R CAPS AND THE LIKE Filed J1me 1926 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 u my I June 21, 1932. w. L. WRIGHT ET AL TRANSFERRING OR DISPENSING SKIRTED PAPER DISKS OR CAPS AND THE LIKE 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed June 23, 1926 U I n June 21, 1932. w. L. WRIGHT ET AL 1,364,003

TRANSFERRING OR DISPENSING SKIRTED PAPER DISKS OR CAPS AND '1HE LIKE F l n 2 1926 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 rangements and combinations within the Patented June 21,- 1932 .j UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE? WILBUR L. WRIGHT AND LEE D. PIERCE, OF FULTON, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORS TO OSWEGO FALLS CORPORATION, OF FULTON, NEW YORK, A QORPORATION OFNEW YORK TRANSFERRING OR DISPENSING SKIRTED PAPER DISKfiOB CAPS AND THE Application filed June 23,

in the light of the following descriptions of the accompanying drawings that illustrate what we now believe to be the prefeiredjmer' chanical expression or embodiment from among other formations, construct1ons, ar-

spirit and scope of the invention.

An object of the invention is'to improve the method of assembling and dispensinghood caps, and provide improvedand efiicient mechanism for transferring such skirted or cup-like articles from' a stack or from i a magazine to the point of use or delivery.

lVith, the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain method steps and in novel features in constructions, arrangements, and cooperation of parts, and

in combinations, as more fully explained and specified hereinafter. V E

Referring to the accompanying'drawings forming a part-hereof:

actuating arm completing its downward gripping position as in Fig. 1.

Fig. 1 shows in sectional elevation mech- I anism embodying the invention, a bottle head being shown below the pap magazine, the cap transfer being showninposition where-1t has initiated its downward movement and consequently has. just taken hold of the bottom cap ofthe stack preparatory to separateing the same from the stack and removing the same from the magazine.- v Fig; 2 shows the-mechanism and certain parts in sectional elevation, in position with the cap-applied to the bottle head, andlthe stroke to cause, release of. the. grippers from ecap skirt. Fig. 3 is asectional elevationshowing the opposite side of the-mechanismfroin that illustrated bv Fig. 1,, with the parts, incap 1920. Serial no. 118,058.

' Fig. 4 is a top plan of the transfer mech ianlsm with the parts in the positions shown by Fig. 1, themagazine not being shown.

F ig. 5 is a detall sectional view taken in the,

plane. of the line 5-5, Fig. 3. v 1 Fig. 6 is a detail sectional elevation showing the parts in position when the grippers are closing in to grip the cap and the downward'movement is being initiated, just before the positions of Fig. 5 are reached.

Fig. 7 is a detail sectional elevationwithj, the parts in the same positions as in Fi 1, 3 i and 5, the cap havingbeen gripped an about to start on its downward movement prepare-"1 1 toryto reversaL- in to'grasp the cap. .Fig. 9 is a detail sectional elevation taken in a plane at right angles'to the plane of the section Fig. 8 and showing the parts in the same positions as in' Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a detail sectional elevation show- I position of the parts when the ing the initial to the bottle mouth, 'asin p pp ie 'Fig. 2, the transfer arm. being shown as completing its downward movement to cause wathdrawal of the gripping fingers from the ca.i

i 11 is a detail sectional elevation showingtie position of the parts when the grip-' ping finger releasing movement is continued."

from the positions-of Fig. 10,,to] move the grippingfingers from the cap, and to permit movement of the automatic latch tolOckiIig po t b sang-.

Fig. 12 .'s a detail sectionfshowing l the I PdSiti'on' ofthe parts; atpproirimately' as in Fig; 11 with, the latch in. lockingv position.

ig. 13-is.a detail elevation showing the initial position of the parts just before the latch automatically dropsf from' locking ositiori, f-preparatory' to, the completion, the cap' securing tor grasping upward movement.

. Fig. 14 is a detail top ceiving head pr plunger p 15 is asectionof said head. 1g.

26; is adetailelevation of the rotafi I orjreversingcarrier of the transfer.

P1 e es i.

- zine 1, for a supply of flexible paper or other fibrous material hood caps or paper cups or the like, 12. In the particular example illustrated, the vertical longitudinal axes of the container a, to be hood capped and the magazine 1, or the sta k or caps b, therein, are alined.

A vertical stack or pile of caps b, is shown in the magazine 1, and the caps b, of the stack or pile are arranged in reversed position, i. e. all in the same position upside down or with their skirts extending upwardly, and the caps are all more or less closely nested together. The stack of caps b, is loosely arranged in the magazine feed tubel, to freely drop or feed down therein by gravity or otherwise, and so as to be freely movable vertically therein to and above the means for supporting or upholding the stack against dropping from said tube. The'lower end of the magazine or tube is open for successive removal of the bottom caps of the stack, when such bot-tom cap is distorted and pulled down with suflicient force to separate the cap from those above and pull the cap past the 'cap stack support.-

In the particular example shown, the cap stack is upheld in the magazine tube by, several spaced radial lugs'or fingers 1a, rigid d contalner that is 1n cap receiving pos1t1on, and

with and projecting inwardly from a fixe internal annular ledge or rmg 1?), within the discharge mouth or lower. end of the magazine tube. The arrangement, in this example, is such that the bottom ca of the stack rests on the inner ends of te stack upholding fingers 1a, which engage the cap skirt at spaced pointsin a circle around the same, say about midway the vertical length of said skirt, so that the closed end of the cap depends from and a distance below the lower end of the magazine tube, in. other words, the bottom cap of the stack is accessible below the magazine tube: The lower end of the magazine is preferably formed or provided with an exterlor-normally-fixed or rigid abutment wall or ring 10, surrounding the open or discharge end of the magazine. Any suitable stand or support, such as 0, Fig. 3, is provided for and on which reststhe container a, to be'hood capped, and this stand is preferably formed or arrangedato approximately center the container in hood capping position'under and with respect to the column of caps in the magazine.

Any suitable means (n0t'shown) is provided to uphold and support the'cap maga-,

zine a distance above and overhanging the container that is located in hood capping po sition, and in a normally fixed or stationary position with respect to said container and its stand and also with respect to the ca transfer mechanism hereinafter describe in detail.

The problem is to take the bottom cap from the magazine and then reverse the cap, and deliver the same right side up, or, in the particular relation of the example shown, to then apply the cap to hood capping position on and covering the head of the container located in hood cap receiving position.

The drawings disclose one example of mechanism, from among others, that solves the problem and performs the desired functions, and in this example a vertically movable support, such as a slide or bracket is reciprocated vertically between the lower end of the magazine and the head of the container that is in cap receiving position, and this slide or support carries cap holding and grasping means, whereby the cap separation, reversal and applying is accomplished.

The support, that we happen to show as an example, embodies a horizontally disposed bracket or arm 2, rigid with or carried by vertical slide or sleeve 2a, slidably confined to and reciprocable longitudinally of the fixed or stationary guide rod or post 3, suitabl secured to the machine base or framewor; (not shown; and arranged behind or spaced laterally a istance from the magazine 1,and the container stand or other support.

The bracket arm 2, projects laterally from its carrying slide 2a, to a position interposed between the magazine and the head of the any suitable actuating means 1s provided to reciprocate said arm verticallyback and forth between the lower end of the magazine and said container head.

For instance, the arm can be actuated and its vertical position controlled by a pitman or link 4 operated b any suitable part (not shownl of the mac inc, and at its upper end having compensating and yielding operative connection with the arm 2, through the medium of slide bolt 5, and compression spring 6.

The vertical bolt 5, extends and'has limited relative vertical sliding movement through a vertical bore or hole through the arm and the compensating spring 6, surrounds the bolt 5,

- is arranged to provide a yielding downward pressure on the bottle heads and to compensate for certain differences in bottle lengths.

In the particular example illustrated where the vertically movable. support of the cap transfer embodies an arm, such as2, a revers-' ing cap holder and grasping assembly or head7b.

' of the arm 2, fixedly carries or is formed with a transversely-arranged elongated horizontal hub 2b,.the axis ofthe bore of which is at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the.

arm, and forms an elongatedbearing for and receives a horizontal rock shaft 7, that extends and projects beyond said hub and is arranged transversely of the arm. At one pro ecting end,this rock shaft or spindle carries a pmion 7a, fixed thereto, and at its other end beyond the hub 2?), said shaft carries an enlarged head 7 b, ri id therewith and carrying the cap holder and cooperating parts.

The cap holder embodies a plunger comprising a cap-receiving approximately flat disk, face plate or head 8, and a shank 8a, normally rigid with said face plate and centrally and perpendicularly arranged with respect thereto and depending therefrom when the face plate is arranged above head 75.

The plunger consisting of face plate 8 and shank 8a, is carried by the head 7 b, of rock shaft 7, with the face plate arranged beyond an end of the head, and with the shank 8a, extending and slidable through said head head 7 b, is formed with a bore extending completely therethrough and the shank 8a, is slidably confined in said bore to permit limited reciprocation thereof relative to the head. The reciprocation or relative independent movement of the face plate 8 of the plunger, is radial with respect to the axis 7.

The plunger movement of the face plate 8, toward the adjacent end of the head 7?), is limited by engagement of said plate or parts carried thereby with the head, while outward straight-line movement of the face plate away from the head, is limited by engagement of collar 8?), fixed on the opposite projecting end of the shank 8a, with the adjacent end of Suitable spring means is provided constantly tending to yieldingly hold the plunger with its face plate 8 at the limit of outward movement away from the adjacent end of head 7? and with the collar 8?), engaging the other end of said head (Fig. 5). For instance, an elongated coiled expansion spring 11, can be employed for this purpose, extending across the collar 8?), and at its two ends operatively coupled to suitable means in such manner that the constant tendency of the spring to contract acts on the plunger to force the same outwardly. In the form shown, the flexible distended spring is bent to U-shape with its central portion traversing the outer end of the collar 8?), which is formed with a transverse groove in which the spring is seated. The two legs of the U-spring extend forwardly beyond opposite edges of the head 7 b,

diametrically with respect to the axis 7. The

and at 'their'free ends are coupled to levers- 12, pivoted to the face plate portion of the plunger and hearing or fulcruming against the adjacent endof the head 7?), in such manner that the spring is always distended under tension and acts on the plunger to project the same and its face plate outwardly as hereinbefore described.

The collar 8?), carries a pivoted vertically swingable detent or latch 14 provided with a vertically swingable weighted arm 14a. This latch is designed to assume locking position to hold the plunger at its approximate limit of inward movement or in withdrawn position (see Figs. 12 and 13) against the tension of spring 11, for a certain purpose and under certain conditions, and to automatically swing to and from such locking position under other conditions and positions. The latch 14 is in locked or looking position when swung in between the collar 8?), and the adjacent end of the head 7 b, with the nose of the latch abutting the adjacent end face of the head 7?).

The face plate 8, of the plunger is provided with a 'pair of radially-projecting diametrically opposite rigid arms, at their free ends these arms are arranged and designed to abut the normally fixed end surface 10, of the cap magazine and limit the forward movement of the face plate toward the lower end of the magazine, for a definite purpose. The radial arms of the face plate 8 are longitudinally slotted and each formed with a pair of inwardly or rearwardly projecting ears But, between which the levers 12, are arranged and swingable on transverse pivots 12a, carried by said ears 8d. The two levers 12, converge from their supporting pivots and are arranged behind the face plate 8, with their inner or adjacent ends 125 curved or rounded and bearing against the flat adjacent end surface 703,. of head 7 b, said adjacent end of said head being transversely grooved to receive and guide the inner ends of levers 12, and to provide the elongated abutting surface 7d on which the innerends 12?), of the levers 12 can rock and slide. The front ends of retractile spring 11, are secured to the levers 12, respectively, at points between the pivoted points 12a, and the inner ends 12?), thereof, in such manner that the outward pressure of the spring against the collar 8?), of the plunger constantly tends to force the plunger outwardly with its face plate 8 at its limit of outward movement (Fig. 10) which causes the levers 12, to assume inclined positions appearing in Fig. 10. The levers 12 are em-.

angle levers or are formed with free ends 12d extending forwardly and working through the slots in the radially projecting arms of the plunger face plate or head, and'at their front free extremities provided with laterally projecting cap grasping sharp pin or needle- Y like points 120, to puncture or at least to prick and grasp the paper or like material of the ca a fkny suitable means can be provided to re= verse the position of thehead 7?) and its spindle 7 and consequently the cap carrying plunger (the plunger head 8 and its shank and the parts carried thereby) as these parts move from bottle capping position to cap supply] and from cap supply to cap delivery or bottle capping position.

As an example for this purpose, we happen to show the toothed pinion 7a, meshing with and actuated and controlled by a longitudinally slidable rack 15, having roller a, at its inner end, constantly held against relatively fixed vertically-elongated cam track 16, by retractive spring 17, so that 26" the rack is longitudinally impelled in one direction by the spring and in the opposite by the high portions or elevations of the cam track, to thereby rotate the pinion 7 a, in opposite directions and to the angular distances necessary to reverse the cap holder and carrier at the predetermined up and down portions of the travel of the carrier 2.

The track 16 is vertically elongated and in the example shown is arranged longitudinally of and suitably secured to the post or guide rod 3.

The sliding rack 15, is arranged longitudinally ofand is carried by the arm or carrier 2, and is held tostraight line re ciprocation throu h the medium of certain guideways carried hy said arm 2.

The cap carrier or transfer reversing mechanism (that embodies said cam track, the rack and pinion) is so constructed and arranged, as to present the plunger head 8,

B in horizontal position above arm 2, to the cap supply (the magazine 1) as the cap transfer approaches operative cap removing position or relation to said magazine and to maintain said position until the cap carrier on its downward movement has withdrawn a distance from said magazine. When the carrier 2, on its downward stroke has carried the cap holder down clear of the magazine, continued downward move ment of carrier 2, causes the cam track, rack and pinion to initiate reversing rotation of the spindle 80,, head 8, and parts carried thereby which rotary movement-is continued through 180 until the plunger head or plate 8 again reaches horizontal position but below carrier arm 2, and this occurs before said head 8, reaches the head of the container on which the cap is to be deposited.

The plunger 8, is in a horizontal position during the latter portion of the down stroke of the carrier 2, and also during the latter portion of the upward stroke of said carrier, and the plunger head is in efiect locked or held in horizontal positions' during said portions of the up and down strokes of the carrier 2, by the straight lengths of track 16 (see Fig. 2) through the medium of the rack, pinion, and spring 17 The plunger head 8 is reversed from its horizontal position above to its horizontal position below the carrier, about midway the length of the carrier down stroke, and about midway the length of the up stroke of the carrier, the plunger head is again reversed to assume its horizontal position above the carrier, all by reason of the inclined intermediate portion of the cam track 16, Fig. 2.

On the latter portion of the up stroke of ,the carrier, the plunger head 8 is in upper horizontal position to receive a cap, and the plunger is locked down with respect to head 7 b, by the latch 14 in looking position (see Fig. 9) for the purpose of holding the cap pricking or gripping fingers 12d swung downwardly and outwardly to withdrawn positions with their prickers 120, withdrawn from operative or cap engaging position (see Fig. 8). The cap carrying and holding parts the fingers 8c, of the plunger move up into engagement with the relatively fixed end wall of 1c, of the cap magazine and stop further upward movement of the plunger. When the plunger thus reaches its limitof upward movement, the flat top face of the plunger head 8, is centrally seated against the flat center of the downwardly protruding bottom cap of the stack of cans in the magazine tube, and intact said stack of caps is usually lifted by and upheld by said plunger head with the bottom cap centrally seated thereon midway between the two withdrawn grasping fingers 12d, the prickers 120, of which are located approximately beside the skirt of the cap (Fig.8).

When the plunger reaches its limit of up-- ward movement by reason of the fingers 8c,

abutting the magazine end Wall, the carrier 2, has not fully completed its upward stroke, but continues its relative or independent upward movement for the slight distance necessary to relieve the pressure of the spring 11, holdingthe latch 14 against the adjacent end wall of head 71) (Figs. 9 and 13) and free said latch so that under the action of its weighted arm 14a, said latch will swing outwardly to unlocking or released position. The parts otherwise will then be in positions as in Figs. 8 and 9, with the exception that the carrier 2 will be at its limit of upward movement with spring 11 fully distended, the top of the head 76, will be approximately against .are in these positions Figs. 8, 9 and 13) when pendent movement until thelower end of head 71), engages the plunger collar (Fig. 5). This independent downward 15 movement of the carrier 2 causes inward and upward swing of the gripping fingers 12d, to project to the prickers thereof into gripping engagement with or projection thereof into the skirt of the cap seated on the plunger 20 head for the purpose of radially-distorting the flexible cap skirt and grasping and holding the cap to and against the plunger head 8, on which the cap is seated, (see Figs. 1, 3, 5 and 7). The relative movement between trol the positions of the gripping fingers and to move said fingers to and from withdrawn or inoperative position and gripping or operative position under the action of the spring 11. The spring 11 not only holds the inner ends of the finger controlling lever arms 12 against the abutment floor 7 d, of the head 76 andhence yieldingly impels the fingers on their gripping strokes, but also constantly exerts plunger projecting force or tension against the plunger through the engagement of the central portion of the spring against the plunger collar 86, while the free ends of against the end 7d of head 76,- through the lever arms "12. 'The operative ends of the gripping fingers are swung toward or from each other by the relative movements between the plunger to which the levers 12-12d are fulcrumed, and the head 7 6, against which the lever end 12 are held by the spring 11.

The carrier continues on its downward stroke after the lower end of the head 7b strikes collar 8?), (Fig. 5) and thus-carries gripping fingers closing in on-the cap skirts 1 same from the contacting cap above, and on the downward movement of the plunger with skirt, aidsv the gripping fingers in stripping and from the discharge mouthof the maga- 'zinetube.

, The carrier and the plunger then move the plunger and carrier 2, is provided to con-' the springs bear in the opposite direction clown the plunger and'pulls the cap 6, seated on and gripped to the plunger head 8, from. the magazine andseparates the same fromv the caps remaining in the stack. The-two from diametrically opposite-points tend to radially and inwardly compress and distort. the cap skirt and thus raid inseparating' the the carrier, the distortion ofthe flaring cap down together below the magazine, with the flat top seated against plunger head 8, and

the flaring cap skirt extendingupwardly therefrom and grasped by the gripping fin gers. As the downward movement continues, the roller of the rack 15, travels down the intermediate inclined portion of track 16, and through rack 15, and pinion 7 a, the spin dle 7 andhead 7 b are rotated to reverse the plunger to a depending position wherein the horizontal plunger head 8, is centered above and axially over the container head to be capped with the cap in proper upright po sition held to the under face of said head and the flaring cap skirt depending. The

carrier 2 and plunger then move down to-.

gether until the cap is properly positioned on the container head, as in Figs. 2 and 10. The plunger thus reaches its limit of downward movement and presses the flat to of the cap tightly down on the top edge 0 the bottle month, while the carrier 2, continues down independently of the plunger and against'the tension of the spring 11, to swing the cap gripping fingers outwardly to withdrawn or inoperative position'and clear of the cap skirt, whereby the cap is properly H seated on the container head and released from the securing or cap grasping fingers (see Fig. 11). The carrier 2, continues on its independent downward movement for a slight distance until the latch 14, (in this example under the action of gravity) auto 'matically swings in to locking tween. the collar 86, and the a j position beacent end of head 7 b, as shown by Fig. 12. The carrier 2,

has then approximately reached its limit of downward movement, and thereupon the carrier and plunger start on theiru ward movement, the plunger being now loc ed in withdrawn position against the tension of spring 11, by latch 14. On moving up'the plunger leaves the cap pro erly seated on and covering the container ead in osition.

and readiness for securing thereon y contraction of the cap skirt under the exterior enlargement or rim of the container head, and securing in any suitable manner or by an% desirable method or means.

he carrier and the empty plunger continue on the upward stroke, and intermediate thelen th thereof, the reversal takes place to bring the plunger to position abovethe car: rier to receive and take a cap from the cap supply as.hereinbefore"descrlbed.

The. n and down reci rocations are preferably tuned with the 'ottle or, container feed to apply hood caps to the containers as rapidly as capped containers. are removed from andcontainers to be capped are brought to the cap receiving position alined with the cap supply and the vertical pathof reciprocation of the cap'transfer: p

It will be noted hat the cap transfer will not drop or deliver the cap carried thereby if it so happens that no container is at the cap receiving position when the cap carrying plunger reaches cap delivery position, but in such event the cap is retained by the plunger on the up and down strokes, until a bottle is present against which the plunger head can abut to cause the independent movement of the carrier necessary to cause with drawal of the cap grasping fingers from the cap.

The cap transfer travels in a vertical line, in this example, back and forth between the cap supply and the cap delivery point and automatically secures a cap from the supply and reverses the cap and automatically deposits the cap in proper position on the bottle head, if a bottle head is present to cause actuationof the cap release means, otherwise the cap is retained by the transfer until a bottle head or some other abutment at the cap delivery point causes the relative plunger and carrier movement to release the cap from the gripper fingers.

At the cap supply, the bottom wall of the cap magazine constitutes an abutmeint to stop the plunger and permit the relative movement of the carrier that brings about cap grasping movement of the cap gripper fin ers.

t the cap delivery point, the bottle head constitutes the abutment to stop the plunger and permit the relative movement of the carrier that brings about cap releasing movement of the gripper fingers, so that in effect, the cap transfer also constitutes a bottle finder, or a cap delivery point finder, inasmuch as an abutment or the like is needed to locatethe point at which the cap is delivered and deposited. 4

Of course, where the cap transfer delivers cup like paper articles for other purposes than bottle hood capping, a bottle head will not be used for the delivery point determining abutment, but some other means or equivalent can be utilized for this purpose.

It is believed to be obvious that various changes, modifications, and variations might be resorted to, that parts might be omitted and features might be added, all without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and hence we do not wish to limit ourselves to the approximate disclosure hereof.

What we claim is 1. A ca cessively mm a cap supply and depositing the same in hood capping position on container heads comprising a plunger having a plunger head and grippers for grasping a cap and holding the same to said head, and a movable carrier for conveying said plunger back and forth between a cap supply and the point of cap delivery, said plunger having a range of independent movement with re spect to said carrier, said grippers being transfer for removing caps sucmoved to gripping and to cap releasing position by said relative movement, means being provided to control and time said relative gripper operating movements.

2. In combination, a magazine having means at its bottom discharge for upholding a stack of flexible skirted paper caps or the like, means for supporting a container the head of which is to be hood capped, a cap carrier, and means for moving the same back and forth between said bottom discharge and the container head to be capped, said cap carrier embodying cap grasping and releasing means to grasp the bottom cap of the stack by its skirt to distort the same and pull the cap down from the stack and magazine and to release the cap when deposited in hood capping position on the container head.

3. In combination, a magazine having means at its bottom discharge for upholding a stack of flexible skirted paper caps or the like, means for supporting a container the head of which is to be hood capped, a cap carrier, andmeans for moving the carrier back and forth between said bottom discharge and the container head to be capped, said cap carrier embodying cap grasping and releasing means to grasp the bottom cap of the stack by its skirt to distort the same and pull the cap down from the stack and magazine and to release the cap when deposited in hood capping position on the container head, said cap carrier also embodying means whereby said grasping and releasing means is relatively movable and spring actuated to and spring held in cap gripping position, and is positively actuated to cap grasping position by engagement with the magazine end and to cap releasing position by engagement with the container head.

4. In combination, a magazine having means at its bottom discharge for upholding a stack of flexible skirted paper caps or the like, means for supporting a container the head of which is to be hood capped, a cap carrier, and means for moving the carrier back and forth between said bottom discharge and the container head to be capped, said cap carrier embodying cap grasping and releasing means to grasp the bottom cap of the stack by its skirt to pull the cap down from the stack and magazine and to release the cap when deposited in hood capping position on the container head, said cap carrier also embodylng means whereby said grasping and releasing means is actuated to cap gripping po-' sition by engagement with the magazine end and to cap releasing position by engagement with the container head.

5. In combination, a cap supply, an adjacent abutment, a support for the container the head of which is to be hood capped, a cap carrier, and means for conveying said cap carrier back and forth between said supply and the head of the container, said cap carrier embodying a head having limited relative movement with respect to said means, cap gripping fingers swung to and from cap gripping positions by said relative movement between the head and said means, spring means constantly tending to impel said head to its limit of relative movement in one direction, and a latchfor lockin said head approximately at its limit relative movement against the tension of said spring means and for releasing said head for relative movement, said abutment and said container head serving to stop said head to permit said relative movement to cause cap grasping and cap N2 1 leasing movements of said fingers.

6. In combination, a vertical cap magazine for a stack of flexible skirted cup like paper articles having means at its open lower end to uphold the stack, and a. cap transfer for successively grasping the bottom caps of the skirt distorting fingers arranged stack and strippln'g them downwardly from the stack and past said means and conveying the same to a point of delivery, said transfer embodying a carrier, a cap receivin head, cap

beside and extending beyond the cap receiving face of said. head to grasp a cap by its skirt-and dis tort the skirt and hold the cap to said face of the head, said fingers being movable to 3 grasp and to release the cap,gknd means tim- ,ing and causing cap grasping and cap relea's carrier having a path of movement back and ing movements of said fingers.

7. In combination, in a transfer'for cup-like skirted paper articles, such as hood caps, a

forth between a cap supply and a point of cap delivery, and a cap holding and releasing assembly transported by said carrier and embodying a head adapted to-have the cap top seated thereagainst, swingable fingers extending at opposite sides of and beyond'said head and having prickers arranged to move inwardly against a cap ,skirt to grasp the skirt and hold the'cap against-the head, means being provided whereby the fingers are moved to grasp a cap and to release a cap,

and means timing and controlling the cap grasping and releasing movements of the fingers.

carrier, a cap receiving head carried thereby and having a limited range of relative move ment with respect thereto, a spring constantly tending to project said head to its outward limit, an automatic gravity latch to hold said head approximately at its oppo site limit against the tension of said'spring,

- uand cap gripping fingersfulcrumed to said 8. A cap transfer comprising a movable stroke feeding the same to a discharge mouth for successive delivery of the caps therefrom, and

hood cap transferring and applying mechanism for removing the caps one by one from the stack and placing the same on the heads of containers for subsequent clamping thereon, said mechanism including spring means the container heads under yielding pressure.

10. Means for holding a stack of paper material hood caps in reversed or upside down position and for feeding the same to a discharge mouth for successive delivery of the capstherefrom, in combination with a cap transferring and applying mechanism movable back and forth between said discharge -whereby the caps are pressed down against mouth and a container head for positively cap from the stack preparatory to reversing the same, and means for causing the cap to be held to and released from the holder, controlled by the relative movement of said holder.

11. A vertical hood cap disk magazine having an open discharge end and internal means to loosely uphold a column of hood cap disks, in combination with a hood cap disk transfer-' ring, reversing and applying mechanism movable back and forth in a vertical path of movement between said end of the magazine and the head of a container located a distance from and alined with said magazine end and embodying means to take hold of and pull the bottom disk in. the magazine past said means and. from the magazine end, reverse the disk and apply the same right side up di-- rectly to the container head. 12. Mechanism for successively movln capg in upside down position from a cap supply and delivering the same right side up at the points of delivery, comprising a reciprocatory carrier, a cap holding and delivering assembly conveyed by said carrier back and forth between the cap supply and the points. 12;

of cap delivery andrelatively reversible with respect to the carrier including a spring held relatively movable member for pressure against the cap supply to actuate the cap grasping action, and means for automatically reversing the position of said assembly on each delivery stroke andon each return between the supply and delivery points. i

13 In combination, a support for a conthe carrier stroke toward the container head and on the return stroke from the container head, means being provided for automatically effecting the movement of the assembly to reversed positions, said assembly being actuated to grasp a cap by pressure against said abutment and to release a cap by pressure against the container head.

14. Mechanism for transferring skirted cap or cup-like articles from a supply to the point of delivery comprising a carrier reciprocatory back and forth from the supply to the point of delivery, cap securing and delivering means conveyed by said carrier and relatively movable with respect thereto, and means for automatically moving said cap securing and delivering means to reverse the position thereof on each stroke of the carrier to the point of delivery and to move said securing and delivering means to its former position on each return stroke of the carrier, said means being arranged to abut the cap supply and cause the cap securing action and to abut the container head at the point of delivery to cause cap release.

15. In combination, means for successively delivering skirted hood cap disks at a discharge mouth; and cap transfer mechanism for forcibly stripping each disk from said mouth and transferring the same to and forcing the same right side up under yielding pressure down on container heads for securing thereon, said mechanism embodying spring means to provide for said yielding applying pressure, a relatively-yielding disk carrying member to press against the disk at said mouth and to press the disk down on the container head and against which member the center of the disk is held and maintained while the disk is being forcibly stripped from said mouth and during transfer, and means controlled by said relative yielding of said member for holding the disk to and releasing the same from said member.

, 161 In combination; a cap supply; a support for a container to be hood capped; and ca transfer and applying mechanism movab e back and forth between said supply to secure a cap therefrom and the container head to deposit the cap thereon, said mechanism including a capholder, and means whereby the cap at the supply .is held to said holder, for detachment from the supply and transportation to the container head, and whereby said cap is released fromsaid holder by the provided to support the ca continued downward pressure of the holder on the container head.

17. In combination; ahood cap supply; an abutment; a support for a container to be capped; and cap transferring and applying mechanism movable back and forth between said supply and thecontainer head to secure a cap at said supply and transport the same to and deliver the sameon the container head, and means causing the cap to be held by said mechanism for removal from the supply and transportation, and to be released from said mechanism when the cap is seated on the container head, said lastmentioned means including a relatively yielding member to be actuated by engagement with said abutment to cause the cap to be held to said mechanism and to be actuated by downward pressure on the container to cause release of the cap.

18. In combination; a cap supply for holding a cap in reversed position; and cap transfer mechanism for removing the cap from said supply and turning the cap over while transferring the same to and pressing the same in upright position down on a container head, said mechanism embodying means whereby the cap is held to said mechanism and thus removed from the supply, and transferred and applied to the bottle head, and a relatively-yielding member to cause release of the cap on the container head by relative movement between said member and said mechanism whileexerting downward pressure on said container head.

19. Incombination; a hood cap supply for holding ahood cap in reversed, position; and hood cap transfer mechanism for removing the cap from saidsupply and turning the ca over while transferring the same to a bottle head and for depositing the cap in up right position on the bottle head, said mechanism embodying means'whereby the cap is held to the mechanism and thus stripped and pulled from the supply and transferred and applied to and released on the bottle head, and a relatively yielding member to cause release of the cap on the bottle head by relative movement between saidmember and said mechanism. I v

20. A magazine having an open discharge mouth, said magazine adapted to receive a stack of nested flexible paper hood caps in reversed position closed end foremost and to feed the same toward said mouth as caps are successively removed therefrom, means being s in said magazine with the end cap accessi le at said mouth for stripping from the stack/and said means and withdrawal from said mouth; in combination with hood "cap transferring, reversing.

and discharging mechanism for successively .1 pulling and stripping the end caps of said right-side up in bottle hood cappin g position. 21. A magazine having a discharge mouth, said magazine adapted to receive a stack of nested flexible paper skirted hood caps and to feed the same toward said mouth as caps are successively removed therefrom, and cap skirt engaging means projecting into said mouth to support the caps in the magazine with the end cap accessible at "said mouth for grasping and stripping from the stack and past said means and for withdrawal from the mouth; in combination with a support for holding a bottle with its head opposite and approximately longitudinally alined 5 with said mouth; and mechanism movable vertically back and forth between said mouth and the hood cap releasing position on the bottle head, for successively pulling the flexible end caps from thestack and past said means and downwardly from said mouth and for releasing the caps inhood capping position on the bottle mouths, for subsequent contraction and securing of the flexible cap skirts under the bottle rims.

22. A magazine having a discharge mouth, said magazine adapted to receive a stack of nested flexible paper skirted hood caps and'to feed the same toward said mouth as caps are successively removed therefrom, and cap .skirt engaging means projecting into said mouth to support the caps in the magazine with the end cap accessible at said mouth for grasping and stripping from the stack and past said means and'for withdrawal from the mouth; in combination with a support for holding ,a bottle with its head opposite and approximately longitudinally alined with said mouth; and mechanism movable vertically back and forth between said mouth and the hood cap releasing position on the bottle head, for successively pulling the flexible end caps from the stack and past said means and downwardly from said mouth and for releasing the caps in hood capping position on the bottle mouths, for subsequent contraction and securing of the flexible cap skirts under the bottle rims, said mechanism includin a relatively movable member for cooperatlng with an abutment. i

23. A vertical magazine having a dischargemouth, said magazine adapted toreceive a stack of nested annular skirted flexible paper hood caps in reversed position and to feed saidcaps toward said mouth as the end caps are removed therefrom, means being provided to uphold the stack in said magazine; in combinationwith a flexible hood ca transferring, reversing and applying mec anism movable back and forth beitween said magazine mouth and a bottle head located a distance from-and approximately alined with said mouth, and including'means to take hold of and pull and strip the end cap from the stack and past said means and from the mouth, reverse the cap, and apply the same right-side up to and release the same on a bottle head. 24;. Apparatus for exteriorly covering bottle heads with flexible paper hood caps having depending flaring annular skirts, said apparatus embodying a feed and holding magazine for and adapted to uphold a stack of said skirted hood caps in reversed position with their skirts extending upwardly, said magazine adapted for the free downward feeding of the stack of reversedcaps to a discharge mouth; said apparatus providing a station to which successive bottle heads and successive hood caps right-side up with their skirts depending are brought together; and mechanism including cap reversing means for successively withdrawing reversed hood caps through said discharge mouth and conveying said caps to Said station while turning said caps over and delivering the same right-side upat said sta tion.

caps having depending skirts, those'steps 25. In the method of exteriorly covering the heads of bottles with flexible paper hood which include arranging a stack of said hood. I

caps in reversed position with their skirts extending upwardly to facilitate the freeidowm ward feeding of the caps without spreadlng the skirts thereof; successively stripping and v removingithelreversed bottom caps from said} stack and conveying the same to a bottle cap ping position while turning the cap over and delivering each' cap right-side up with its skirt "depending, and bringing together the caps while right-side up and the bottle heads to exteriorly cover said heads. V p

i 26. Means for dispensing sheet paper material annularly skirted hood caps from a I cap discharge mouth to the point where the cap is released while positioned on a container head, comprising a movable carrier, relatively movable cap grasping devices sup ported by said carrier and having prickers tograsp the cap skirts, operating means for actuating said carrier, and means to move sa1d devices to grasp and release a cap.

'27. In apparatus for dispensing flexible skirted hood caps for application to bottle heads to be hood capped thereby, means for supporting flexible skirted hood caps at a discharge and for successively supplying such I caps to said discharge; and mechanism having strokes toward and from said discharge and provided with and carrying relatively movable means forgrasping the caps successively bytheir flexible skirts and pulling the caps fromsaid' discharge and releasing the caps on bottle heads.

28i In apparatus for, dispensing flexible skirtedhood caps' for application to bottle heads to be hood capped thereby, means for supporting flexible skirted hood caps at a discharge and for successively supplying such caps to said discharge; and mechanism havingstrokes toward and from said discharge and provided with and carrying relatively movable pricker fingers for grasping the caps succesively by their flexible skirts and pulling .the caps from said discharge and releasing the caps on bottle heads.

29. In machinery for hood capping bottles; in combination; a magazine adapted to carry a stack of flexible sheet hood caps having their flaring annular flexible skirts all extending in the same direction and their closed 3 tops or centers alined, and to feed said stack forward to a discharge; and a cap transfer movable back and forth between said discharge and a cap delivery point for removing successive caps from said discharge and delivering them successively at said point. said transfer embodying cap-fitting means to engage said top or center of each cap',and

means whereby the top orzcenter of each cap I is thus held to said cap-fitting means and the cap is thereby transported to and released at said delivery point. Signed at Fulton, Oswego County, New

day of June, 1926. WILBUR L. WRIGHT. LEE D. PIERCE.

York, this 16th 

